Souad HOUSSEIN
Founder
Nearly 20 years serving French-speaking Cinema in the Global South
Founder of the Pan-African Audiovisual and Cinema Observatory (PACO), whose objective is to collect data on the economic impact of the cinema and audiovisual industry in Africa, Souad Houssein holds a a master's degree in global communication and a diploma in international relations.
She joined the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) in 1999. Within which she acquired solid experience in the development and promotion of films from 37 countries, notably through the management of the "Image Fund of the Francophonie" (cinema component), the promotion and capacity building of cinema professionals.
Its field of intervention focused on production assistance (Fonds Image de la Francophonie), capacity building (Workshops, Writing scholarships, Co-production platforms), and promotion, mainly support for Festivals. During her years, Madame HOUSSEIN has notably contributed to the organization of several events at the Pavilion of World Cinemas (Cannes), at FESPACO (Burkina Faso), as well as the Carthage Film Days (Tunisia). An activist, Madame HOUSSEIN has established fruitful partnerships and worked in favor of projects aiming at the rapprochement of African professionals, notably advocating for the creation of a Pan-African Fund for Cinema and Audiovisual alongside Tunisia, Morocco, and numerous countries since 2011.
Previously, Souad Houssein worked notably in Djibouti as part of a functional literacy program in French dedicated to women with the support of GTZ and UNICEF and is currently a member of the International Women's Alliance (IWA) where she contributes in communication.
